Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to the EU Standing Veterinary Committee in respect of requests by Ireland and France that the committee re-examine its grading of countries as low or high risk for the purposes of BSE and what information it has on any representations to the committee made by Her Majesty's Government on this matter.

Ross Finnie: As part of the classification process required under Council Regulation 999/2001, as amended, all member states including the UK were invited to make an application to determine their BSE status against agreed criterion.

  The UK application was subject to discussion with all the devolved administrations, before it was submitted to the Commission's Scientific Steering Committee for evaluation.

  Regulation 999/2001 allows for a member state to notify the Commission of any epidemiological evidence or other information which might lead to a change in BSE status. As far as the Executive is aware, neither France nor the Republic of Ireland have applied to have their original classification as "low incidence" re-examined.

Anti-Social Behaviour

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has allocated to each local authority to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive does not make specific budget allocations to local authorities to tackle anti-social behaviour. Relevant costs might be allocated to local authority general expenditure and attract revenue support grant or, in the case of local authority tenants, to the Housing Revenue Account.

Autism

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it holds any information on research carried out into autistic spectrum disorders that has not been supported by government funding.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive does not hold a register of non-government funded research into autistic spectrum disorders.

Civil Servants

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has issued any internal guidance to civil servants on how to answer parliamentary questions additional to the civil service code and whether any such guidance will be published.

Patricia Ferguson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-25651 today.

Civil Servants

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether written parliamentary questions are ever referred to political advisers for input into the answer and, if so, what proportion, and what its reasons are for its position on this matter.

Patricia Ferguson: Advice is given and sought, appropriate to the question. No central record is held of referrals to special advisers.

Civil Servants

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make available to members all guidance, guidelines, advice and codes of conduct issued in all departments to civil servants on answering (a) parliamentary questions and (b) letters from members.

Patricia Ferguson: Copies of the Executive's current guidance on parliamentary questions, ministerial correspondence and the Scottish Ministerial Code have been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Environment

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will define and quantify the "equitable contribution" to the UK Kyoto target referred to in the indicator of sustainable development for Scotland on climate change in its document Meeting the Needs… Priorities, Actions and Targets for Sustainable Development in Scotland .

Allan Wilson: We have agreed with the UK Government that emission reductions, required to meet the UK Kyoto commitment, can be delivered by working in partnership. The policy measures, through which we will deliver our contribution, are set out in the Scottish Climate Change Programme .

  Data published in Greenhouse Gas Inventories for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland: 1990-1999 (available on the Scottish Executive climate change website at: www.scotland.gov.uk/climatechange) shows the Scottish contribution amounts to a 5% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 1990.

Environment

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide (a) a detailed statement of the scientific basis for its proposals to designate approximately 18% of Scotland as nitrate vulnerable zones, (b) a detailed explanation of why such zones are required and (c) details of the scientific or any other evidence upon which the conclusion was reached in respect of each proposed nitrate vulnerable zone.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive methodology for identification of groundwater nitrate vulnerable zones is detailed at paragraphs 13 to 15 and Annex 3 of the consultation paper Protection of Scotland's Water Environment: Consultation on Further Scottish Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (Parliament’s Reference Centre Bib. number 18665).

  The issues and objectives of designation are summarised at paragraphs 2 to 18 of the draft Regulatory and Environmental Impact Assessment at Annex II of the consultation paper Water Quality: Action Programmes for Scottish Nitrate Vulnerable Zones: A Consultation (Bib. number 20823). The answer to question S1W-22488 on 12 February 2002, covers the requirements of the EC Nitrates Directive for designation of nitrate vulnerable zones. The supporting scientific evidence and monitoring data details for each of the proposed nitrate vulnerable zones are available from the British Geological Survey report Groundwater nitrate vulnerable zones for Scotland (Bib. number 18567).

Environment

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that laws and regulations governing litter are enforced.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive commissioned, in February 2002, a review to consider whether the current legislation on litter and flytipping is effective and achieving its purpose, and whether it is being fully utilised by local authorities. The report of the review is due to be completed in late summer.

Environment

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which agency or agencies are responsible for the monitoring of pesticides in seeds imported for growing.

Ross Finnie: Seeds imported for growing are not monitored for pesticides.

Environment

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many pesticides that are licensed for use in other EU countries are prohibited for use in Scotland.

Ross Finnie: This information is not readily accessible and would take a disproportionate time to establish.

Environment

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive for which pesticides seeds imported for growing are tested; by whom such testing is carried out, and whether it will provide a list of the maximum permitted residue level in respect of each such pesticide.

Ross Finnie: Seeds imported for growing are not tested for pesticides.

Environment

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list for each of the last three years (a) any occasions on which pesticide residue in excess of maximum permitted levels has been found on seeds imported for growing and (b) the (i) level and (ii) type of pesticide in each case.

Ross Finnie: Seeds imported for growing are not tested for pesticide residues.

European Capital of Culture

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much is being spent on consultation fees in respect of the Inverness and the Highlands bid to become European Capital of Culture in 2008.

Dr Elaine Murray: The Executive has contributed £50,000 last year and this year towards the total cost of the bid. The question of expenditure on consultation fees should be addressed to the bid company, invernesshighland2008, as it is their responsibility.

Ferry Services

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Caledonian MacBrayne is under a continuing instruction to provide an hourly ferry service between Gourock and Dunoon and what the reason is for its position on this matter.

Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-25321 on 7 May 2002.

Finance

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what formulae it uses for distributing funding to (a) local authorities, (b) NHS boards, (c) local enterprise companies and (d) any other local bodies.

Peter Peacock: (a) The method used to distribute revenue grant to local authorities is set out in Grant Aided Expenditure (the Green Book) 2001-02, which is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 12261).

  An explanation of the formula used to determine the single capital allocation is given in the detailed response to question S1W-5685 on 30 June 2000. A copy is also available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 7751).

  Housing capital is not distributed by formula. Since 1997-98 the allocations have remained broadly unchanged, which has provided a measure of stability for councils

  (b) Funding for NHS boards is distributed on the basis of the Arbuthnott formula. Details of the formula are contained in Fair Shares for All which is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 11762).

  (c) The allocation of resources to local enterprise companies is undertaken by Scottish Enterprise.

  (d) The allocation of development funding to Community Scotland’s Area Teams uses a methodology based on a series of social exclusion indicators and guidance obtained from Scottish ministers on their investment priorities.

  There is no one formula applied to funding of social inclusion partnerships (SIPs), which are both area based and thematic in nature. The methodology lying behind the funding of area based SIPs for 2002-03 aims to move towards smoothing per capita spend rates across SIPs. Thematic SIPs, on the other hand were subject to an across the board funding increase of 2.5%.

  The Scottish Executive in conjunction with local partners (typically from local authorities, enterprise companies, higher and further education sectors, environmental agencies, the voluntary sector and, increasingly the private sector) – through a series of committees – recommend to ministers allocations of funding to meet partnership and European Programme objectives.

  The allocation to area tourist boards is undertaken by VisitScotland.

  The allocations to higher educational institutions is undertaken by Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC).

  The allocations to further educational colleges is undertaken by Scottish Further Education Funding Council (SFEFC).

  Funding for local bodies is also available through a number of smaller programmes, but details of these could only be assembled at disproportionate cost.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis has been made of the impact of the foot-and-mouth disease burial site at Birkshaw on the local environment and specifically on the River Annan.

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what permanent measures have been put in place to monitor the future impact of the foot-and-mouth disease burial site at Birkshaw on the local environment and specifically on the River Annan.

Ross Finnie: The site used for burial of carcasses was the subject of risk assessment by all the relevant authorities before it was constructed to ensure that it was suitable in terms of its hydrology, geology and topography. Since the site was identified, the surrounding surface water environment, including the River Annan, has been subject to regular monitoring by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). Within the boundaries of the site, groundwater monitoring is undertaken by independent environmental consultants in close co-operation and in full consultation with SEPA. SEPAs on-going monitoring of watercourses draining the site has at no time identified any pollution from the burial pits. Consequently, SEPA confirms that there have been no pollution incidents arising in the River Annan or its tributaries from the buried carcasses.

  Additional to SEPA’s general statutory responsibility to monitor ground water quality, they will continue to carry out monitoring of surface waters around the site until they judge that they can return to a standard frequency of monitoring.

Foster Care and Adoption

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when its review of fostering and adoption will be completed and when the findings will be published.

Cathy Jamieson: Phase one of the adoption policy review, on the service provided by adoption agencies, has been completed and is being considered by the Executive. One of its recommendations - that Scotland join the national adoption register being created in England and Wales - is already being implemented. We are also considering how to take forward phase two of the review.

Foster Care and Adoption

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-4432 by Cathy Jamieson on 17 January 2002, what aspects of fostering have been considered by the working group undertaking the review of adoption and fostering; whether any further aspects of fostering will be considered by the group and, if so, when it will consider them.

Cathy Jamieson: Fostering was identified as an important option in the first phase of the adoption policy review, but was not considered in any detail. It will be considered in depth in phase two which will start later this year.

Further Education

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give a detailed breakdown of all funding allocated in respect of the Beattie Committee report, stating which projects and organisations have benefited since its publication.

Iain Gray: £22.6 million has been allocated by the Scottish Executive over the period April 2001 to March 2004 to implement the recommendations contained in the Beattie Committee report. The funding has been allocated as follows:

  

 

2001-02
(£ million) 
  

2002-03
(£ million) 
  

2003-04
(£ million) 
  

Total
(£ million) 
  



Careers Service Companies (Scottish Enterprise and Highlands 
  and Islands Enterprise) 
  

3.5 
  
 
 

3.5 
  



Careers Scotland (Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and 
  Islands Enterprise) 
  
 

5.8 
  

5.8 
  

11.6 
  



Scottish Further Education Funding Council 
  

1 
  

1.5 
  

2 
  

4.5 
  



Beattie National Action Group development Projects 
  

0.5 
  

1 
  

1.5 
  

3 
  



Total 
  
 
 
 

22.6 
  



  Careers Scotland multi-agency inclusiveness projects and the further education sector are all benefiting from Beattie inclusiveness funding.

Housing

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Glasgow housing stock transfer includes the transfer of commercial properties held by Glasgow City Council to the Glasgow Housing Association.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Glasgow housing transfer will include some shops and offices currently held on the Housing Revenue Account.

Justice

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) prison sentences and (b) sentences involving an alternative to custody have been passed by district courts in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Mr Jim Wallace: The available information is given in the following table. Figures are shown separately for lay district courts and for the stipendiary magistrates court in Glasgow.

  Persons with a Charge Proved in District Courts, by type of Sentence, 1998-2000

  





1998 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  



Custodial sentences 
  



 Lay District Court 
  

 466 
  

 389 
  

 346 
  



 Stipendiary Magistrates Court 
  

 1,366 
  

 1,447 
  

 928 
  



 Total 
  

 1,832 
  

 1,836 
  

 1,274 
  



Non-custodial sentences 
  



 Lay District Court 
  

 52,751 
  

 45,501 
  

 41,498 
  



 Stipendiary Magistrates Court 
  

 5,642 
  

 4,516 
  

 3,337 
  



 Total 
  

 58,393 
  

 50,017 
  

 44,835

Justice

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average (a) term of a custodial sentence and (b) fine levied was for persons convicted of causing death by dangerous driving in each year since 1996.

Mr Jim Wallace: The available information on persons given a custodial sentence is given in the following table.

  Between 1996 and 2000, only eight persons were fined on conviction of a main charge of causing death by dangerous driving. The average fine imposed in these cases was £1,944. Information for 2001 is not expected to be available until around November 2002.

  Persons with a Main Charge Proved in Scottish Courts Under Section 11 of The Road Traffic Act 1988 Who Were Given a Custodial Sentence, 1996-2000

  


Main penalty 
  

1996 
  

1997 
  

1998 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  



Average sentence (days) 
  

618 
  

693 
  

558 
  

498 
  

1,077 
  



Number of persons sentenced 
  

13 
  

14 
  

9 
  

11 
  

5 
  



  Note:

  1. Causing death by dangerous driving.

Justice

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much in outstanding fines is due to Glasgow sheriff court in respect of each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Mr Jim Wallace: Information is not readily available in the form requested. The amount of fines outstanding at Glasgow sheriff court or any sheriff court changes on a daily basis, as new fines are imposed and previously imposed fines are paid in whole or in part, or discharged by order of the court. Payments in one year can relate to fines imposed in previous years.

  At my request the Chief Executive of the Scottish Court Service has provided the information in the following table on the total level of fines outstanding at Glasgow sheriff court at the end of the last five financial years:

  


Date 
  

Total Amount for Fines/Compensation Orders 
  Outstanding 
  



31 March 1998 
  

£2,022,454 
  



31 March 1999 
  

£2,081,363 
  



31 March 2000 
  

£1,912,528 
  



31 March 2001 
  

£2,070,162 
  



31 March 2002 
  

£1,879,208 
  



  The table includes compensation orders which remain outstanding at the end of the year.

Legislation

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what legal advice it has received on whether a statutory instrument which is required to be made by the Scottish ministers is lawfully made in circumstances where it bears no name or subscription.

Patricia Ferguson: A statutory instrument which is required to be made by the Scottish ministers is lawfully made when it is signed by one of those ministers, or by a junior minister or an official on their behalf.

Local Government Finance

Kay Ullrich (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether money awarded to local authorities under the special islands needs allowance scheme should be used specifically to meet the special needs of islands and whether any monitoring is carried out to determine what use local authorities put such money to.

Mr Andy Kerr: No, special islands needs allowance, like the vast majority of grant provided to local authorities, is unhypothecated. It is up to each local authority how it allocates its resources.

Marine Environment

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any role or powers in respect of tidal information.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive has no specific powers in respect of tidal information. However, we contribute towards the cost of operating the UK National Sea Level Network, a series of tide gauges at key positions around the coast of the British Isles, in support of Scottish flood prevention, environment and fisheries policy research interests.

Marine Environment

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was consulted by the UK Hydrographic Office on a licensing and fees regime for tidal information and what its response to any such consultation was.

Allan Wilson: The Executive was not consulted by the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO), an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Defence, on a licence and fee regime for tidal information. I understand the UKHO does not consult on charges for its services.

Medical Research

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to form a research and development partnership with the pharmaceutical industry in order to fund jointly clinical research for the faster development of new drugs for patients.

Malcolm Chisholm: Following on from the answer given to question S1W-23850 on 20 March 2002, the Pharmaceutical Liaison Group continues to explore areas of shared interest and concern to the Health Department, NHSScotland and the pharmaceutical industry. The specific issue of a research and development partnership with the pharmaceutical industry is under consideration.

NHS Expenditure

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what costs were incurred by each NHS board on air transport on behalf of patients in each year since 1997.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally.

National Insurance Contributions

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the additional costs of the increased employers’ National Insurance contribution announced in the UK Budget 2002 will be for each (a) local authority and (b) NHS board in (i) 2002-03 and (ii) 2003-04.

Mr Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-25291 on 14 May 2002.

Planning

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many responses it received to its consultation paper, Getting Involved in Planning , and how many such responses were in favour of third party rights of appeal.

Ms Margaret Curran: As of 26 April, the Executive received 404 responses. These are currently being analysed independently and a report will be published in the summer. Copies of the responses are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre.

Planning

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints to the Commissioner for Local Administration in Scotland in each of the last three years were about third party rights of appeal in the planning system.

Ms Margaret Curran: This information is not held centrally.

  Information on complaints to the Commissioner for Local Administration in Scotland is contained in the Commissioner's Annual Reports, which are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre. The Bib. numbers for the last three reports are 16262 (1998-99), 16263 (1999-2000) and 21048 (2000-01). These reports do not, however, provide a breakdown of the specific points raised (such as third-party rights of appeal) within each subject.

Planning

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed European Commission directive on access to justice will have an impact on third-party rights of appeal in the planning system.

Ms Margaret Curran: As the European Commission has not yet proposed such a directive, it is not possible to predict any potential implications at this time.

Planning

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications of the United Nations Aarhus Convention are for third-party rights of appeal in the planning system.

Ms Margaret Curran: We have considered the implications of the Aarhus Convention and have concluded that the planning system complies with the terms of the convention. In relation to third party appeals, this view was supported in recent research* undertaken on behalf of a number of environmental organisations, which concluded that "the Aarhus Convention does not directly further the case of third party rights of appeal".

  Note:

  * Third Party Rights of Appeal in Planning by Green Balance, Leigh Day & Co, John Popham and Professor Michael Purdue - published January 2002.

Planning

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it holds on any cases that have been heard by the European Court of Human Rights that have given support to third-party rights of appeal in the planning system.

Ms Margaret Curran: This information is not held centrally. Judgements passed by the European Court of Human Rights can be viewed on the internet at:

  www.echr.coe.int.

Police

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many uniformed police patrol officers there were in each police force area in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001-02 and how many there are currently.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information requested is not held centrally. The deployment of police officers to particular tasks such as uniformed patrol is an operational matter for chief constables.

  The number of officers in each force in 1999-2000, 2000-01 and 2001-02 are shown in the following table. The latest figures available are at 31 March 2002.

  





No. of Officers at 31 March 
  



Force 
  

2000 
  

2001 
  

2002 
  



Central 
  

721 
  

733 
  

719 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

451 
  

478 
  

482 
  



Fife 
  

837 
  

852 
  

912 
  



Grampian 
  

1,215 
  

1,273 
  

1,258 
  



Lothian and Borders 
  

2,584 
  

2,670 
  

2,700 
  



Northern 
  

653 
  

668 
  

683 
  



Strathclyde 
  

7,101 
  

7,318 
  

7,327 
  



Tayside 
  

1,137 
  

1,157 
  

1,170 
  



Total 
  

14,699 
  

15,149 
  

15,251

Police

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many uniformed police patrol officers were recruited in each police force area in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01, (c) 2001-02 and (d) 2002-03 to date.

Mr Jim Wallace: The recruitment and deployment of police officers to particular tasks such as uniformed patrol is an operational matter for chief constables.

  The number of police officers recruited in each police force area in 1999-2000 and 2000-01, the latest year for which figures are available, are shown in the following table:

  


No. of Officers Recruited 
  

1999-2000 
  

2000-01 
  



Central 
  

26 
  

39 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

11 
  

46 
  



Fife 
  

40 
  

50 
  



Grampian 
  

24 
  

115 
  



Lothian and Borders 
  

62 
  

189 
  



Northern 
  

23 
  

45 
  



Strathclyde 
  

250 
  

503 
  



Tayside 
  

38 
  

66 
  



Total 
  

474 
  

1,053 
  



  Information on the numbers of officers recruited in a given year is included in HM Inspectorate’s Annual Statistical Returns from forces. The returns for 2001-02 will not be available until the end of May.

Racial Equality

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has contributed either (a) directly or (b) indirectly through a third party to Edinburgh and Lothian Racial Equality Council in each year since 1997.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Executive does not provide direct funding to Race Equality Councils. It is open to councils to apply to the Executive’s Ethnic Minority Grant Scheme for funding for specific projects.

Registers of Scotland

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it expects the Registers of Scotland Executive Agency to achieve in the financial year 2002-03.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have set the Registers of Scotland the following key targets for 2002-03 :

  For the Trading Fund to achieve a return of 6% on net capital employed over the three-year period ending 31 March 2003.

  To reduce the standard production cost index by 3% by 31 March 2003 from its base at 31 March 2002.

  To continue the Land Register extension programme, by extending the operation of the Land Register to the counties of Inverness and Nairn as operational areas, and by preparing for the transfer of the counties of Banff, Moray, Ross and Cromarty, Caithness, Sutherland, Orkney and Zetland on 1 April 2003.

  To maintain and enhance customer service through retention of the Charter Mark; by increasing customer satisfaction by 10% as regards the accuracy, speed of response and the value for money represented in the delivery of the agency’s services, and by processing 96% of all other enquiries in compliance with the Registers of Scotland Customer Service Policy.

  To achieve recording and registration turnaround times:

  - averaging 15, but not exceeding 25 working days for Sasine Writs;

  - averaging 25, but not exceeding 30 working days for Dealings with Whole, and

  - averaging 105, but not exceeding 125 working days for Domestic First Registrations, 70% of all applications to be completed within 125 working days.

  To achieve 20,000 chargeable accesses per week to the Registers Direct website by 31 March 2003.

  To achieve a registration accuracy of at least 98% during 2002-03.

  Achievement of these targets will ensure that homebuyers receive an improved and more efficient service over the coming year. The transfer to the Land Register of Banff, Moray, Ross and Cromarty, Caithness, Sutherland, Orkney and Zetland in April 2003 will complete the transfer of counties from the Register of Sasines to the Land Register.

Renewable Energy

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the electricity generated currently comes from wind power and what the wind power generating capacity is.

Ross Finnie: There is currently around 100 megawatts of onshore wind energy capacity installed across Scotland. This amounts to around 1% of Scotland’s total installed generating capacity.

Renewable Energy

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many wind farms are currently (a) operational and (b) planned.

Ross Finnie: There are currently 12 wind farms in operation across Scotland. Four developers have submitted applications for the consent of Scottish ministers under section 36 of the 1989 Electricity Act for windfarms of over 50MW capacity. A further five applications are in the process of preparing formal applications under section 36.

  We do not possess figures for applications made to local planning authorities for windfarms under 50MW under the Town and Country Planning Act.

Renewable Energy

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much energy from wind power is exported as Green Credits.

Ross Finnie: In 2000-01, Scotland exported around 19% of its generated electricity; a breakdown of exports by source is not available. The system of Renewable Obligation Certificates under the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) is not yet in full operation, but will not require the export of electricity to accompany the sale outwith Scotland of any such certificates.

Renewable Energy

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what reduction in the combustion of fossil fuels has been effected by the advent of wind generated electricity.

Ross Finnie: Wind energy at present accounts for a very small fraction of Scottish electricity generation – around 1%. However, the introduction of the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) has created a huge demand for new sources of renewable energy, which onshore wind is very well placed to meet. As existing fossil fuel power stations are closed over the next two decades, it is expected that wind and other forms of renewable generation will increasingly fill the gap.

Roads

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will direct BEAR Scotland Ltd to bring forward to May 2002 its proposed repair work to the A830, and whether it recognises the importance of the A830 to the communities of Mallaig, Arisaig and Morar and tourism in the area, in particular the need to keep the road open with minimal impediment and interference during summer months.

Lewis Macdonald: In accordance with our contract with BEAR Scotland Ltd and to ensure value for money for the repairs to the section of the A830 between Borrodale and Arisaig, the work will be put out to tender. The design, preparation of tender documents, tender period and the appointment of contractors to carry out the work mean that it will be impossible to carry out the repairs before the tourist season. In recognition of the importance of this route, consultations will take place with interested parties on the optimum timing of the works and the traffic management regime to achieve the minimum disruption. In the interim the strategy to undertake urgent repairs and increase the frequency of safety inspections to ensure road safety is maintained will continue.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what period of time the useful life of the Clyde Tunnel was designed to be and when significant repairs should be undertaken for that life to be achieved.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether initiatives such as widening or duplicating the Clyde Tunnel are being considered to improve the rapidity of traffic flows through the tunnel.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive where the maintenance and upgrading work to the Clyde Tunnel is in its programme of transport improvement priorities.

Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-25442 on 17 May 2002.

Social Inclusion Partnerships

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which social inclusion partnerships have (a) underspent and (b) overspent their budgets in each financial year since 1998-99 and by how much.

Ms Margaret Curran: Details of social inclusion partnership (SIP) spending against their SIP Fund allocations is shown in the following tables for 1999-2000 and 2000-01. Out-turn information in respect of 2001-02 is not yet available.

  


SIP
  

Total Allocation
  

Expenditure
  

Under (Over)
  



Aberdeen Great 
  Northern
  

809,000
  

809,000
  

0
  



Arbroath
  

140,000
  

140,000
  

0
  



Argyle and 
  Bute
  

206,000
  

205,113
  

887
  



Edinburgh North
  

2,877,000
  

2,830,281
  

46,719
  



Edinburgh South
  

740,000
  

506,427
  

233,573
  



Edinburgh Strategic 
  Programme
  

1,178,000
  

1,098,064
  

79,936
  



Edinburgh Youth 
  SIP
  

205,000
  

182,331
  

22,669
  



Edinburgh Craigmillar
  

1,723,000
  

1,669,416
  

53,584
  



Alloa South 
  and East*
  

750,000
  

783,252
  

(33,252)
  



Dundee Young 
  Carers
  

56,000
  

24,332
  

31,668
  



Dundee SIP1
  

2,512,000
  

2,508,967
  

3,033
  



Dundee SIP2
  

792,000
  

792,000
  

0
  



Dundee Xplore
  

300,000
  

181,375
  

118,625
  



East Ayrshire 
  Coalfields
  

741,000
  

694,110
  

46,890
  



Tranent
  

94,000
  

93,750
  

250
  



Levern Valley*
  

433,000
  

554,299
  

(121,299)
  



Falkirk
  

550,000
  

550,000
  

0
  



Fife
  

751,000
  

720,332
  

30,668
  



Fife Frae
  

94,000
  

55,808
  

38,192
  



Glasgow Smaller 
  Area
  

1,100,000
  

1,096,559
  

3,441
  



Glasgow Anti 
  Racist
  

593,325
  

465,202
  

128,123
  



Glasgow Big 
  Step
  

378,000
  

87,298
  

290,702
  



Glasgow Drumchapel
  

1,875,000
  

1,587,475
  

287,525
  



Glasgow East 
  End
  

2,800,000
  

2,672,295
  

127,705
  



Glasgow Gorbals
  

562,500
  

541,183
  

21,317
  



Glasgow Greater 
  Easterhouse
  

3,400,000
  

2,779,274
  

620,726
  



Glasgow Greater 
  Govan
  

375,000
  

349,172
  

25,828
  



Glasgow Greater 
  Pollock
  

1,725,000
  

1,701,653
  

23,347
  



Glasgow Milton
  

200,074
  

170,303
  

29,771
  



Glasgow North
  

3,300,000
  

3,240,883
  

59,117
  



Glasgow Routes 
  Out
  

187,500
  

65,175
  

122,325
  



Glasgow Springburn
  

200,316
  

200,085
  

231
  



Highlands and 
  Islands 
  

603,000
  

479,730
  

123,270
  



Inverclyde
  

2,998,000
  

2,928,225
  

69,775
  



Moray Youthstart
  

424,000
  

419,556
  

4,444
  



North Ayrshire
  

776,000
  

776,000
  

0
  



Motherwell 
  North
  

1,530,000
  

1,329,242
  

200,758
  



North Lanarkshire
  

850,000
  

807,162
  

42,838
  



South Coatbridge
  

250,000
  

208,947
  

41,053
  



GO – Perth
  

128,000
  

46,577
  

81,423
  



Ferguslie Park**
  

662,372
  

484,563
  

177,809
  



Paisley 
  

2,981,000
  

2,654,076
  

326,924
  



Scottish Borders
  

215,000
  

154,966
  

60,034
  



Girvan
  

315,000
  

289,848
  

25,152
  



North Ayr
  

1,508,000
  

1,508,000
  

0
  



Blantyre/ North 
  Hamilton
  

500,000
  

498,254
  

1,746
  



Cambuslang
  

600,000
  

598,595
  

598,595
  



Stirling 
  

583,000
  

582,356
  

644
  



West Dunbartonshire
  

2,193,000
  

2,186,700
  

6,300
  



West Lothian
  

188,000
  

170,792
  

17,208
  



Total
  

48,952,087
  

45,479,003
  

3,473,084
  



  Notes:

  *Only two social inclusion partnership areas showed an over spend against the agreed SIP Fund allocation in 1999-2000, i.e. Alloa South and East and Levern Valley. It should be noted that any amounts over and above the agreed allocations are met from other sources, usually the local authority.

  **By April 1999 Ferguslie Park was absorbed into the Paisley Social Inclusion Partnership but was given a ring-fenced budget to be used solely for the Ferguslie Park area.

  Table shows figures for 2000-01;

  


SIP
  

Total Allocation
  

Expenditure
  

Underspend
  



Aberdeen Great 
  Northern
  

844,000
  

844,000
  

0
  



Argyle and 
  Bute
  

280,000
  

260,791
  

19,209
  



Edinburgh North
  

2,589,575
  

2,556,423
  

33,152
  



Edinburgh South
  

990,938
  

919,498
  

71,440
  



Edinburgh Strategic 
  Programme
  

550,450
  

537,490
  

12,960
  



Edinburgh Youth 
  SIP
  

567,000
  

535,543
  

31,457
  



Edinburgh Craigmillar
  

1,755,335
  

1,731,958
  

23,377
  



Alloa South 
  and East
  

1,017,000
  

1,014,783
  

2,217
  



Dundee Young 
  Carers
  

105,000
  

101,404
  

3,596
  



Dundee SIP1
  

2,119,000
  

2,106,449
  

12,551
  



Dundee SIP2
  

453,000
  

448,038
  

4,962
  



Dundee Xplore
  

500,000
  

269,450
  

230,550
  



East Ayrshire 
  Coalfields
  

1,042,250
  

1,042,000
  

250
  



Tranent
  

128,000
  

128,000
  

0
  



Levern Valley
  

446,000
  

408,121
  

37,879
  



Falkirk
  

578,750
  

253,525
  

325,225
  



Fife
  

630,000
  

630,000
  

0
  



Fife Frae
  

164,750
  

153,817
  

10,933
  



Glasgow Smaller 
  Area
  

1,128,000
  

6,365
  

1,121,635
  



Glasgow Anti 
  Racist
  

780,500
  

737,782
  

42,718
  



Glasgow Big 
  Step
  

722,328
  

565,541
  

156,787
  



Glasgow Drumchapel
  

2,755,280
  

2,165,307
  

589,973
  



Glasgow East 
  End
  

2,868,000
  

2,737,062
  

130,938
  



Glasgow Gorbals
  

764,000
  

716,873
  

47,127
  



Glasgow Greater 
  Easterhouse
  

3,491,000
  

2,716,902
  

774,098
  



Glasgow Greater 
  Govan
  

509,000
  

472,008
  

36,992
  



Glasgow Greater 
  Pollock
  

2,343,000
  

1,920,344
  

422,656
  



Glasgow Milton
  

764,000
  

567,683
  

196,317
  



Glasgow North
  

2,987,000
  

2,919,101
  

67,899
  



Glasgow Routes 
  Out
  

353,000
  

323,209
  

29,791
  



Glasgow Springburn
  

764,000
  

717,959
  

46,041
  



Highland and 
  Islands
  

886,825
  

603,504
  

283,321
  



Inverclyde
  

2,421,000
  

2,388,291
  

32,709
  



Moray Youthstart
  

576,000
  

131,277
  

444,723
  



North Ayrshire
  

730,000
  

701,581
  

28,419
  



Motherwell 
  North
  

1,629,500
  

1,532,360
  

97,140
  



North Lanarkshire
  

886,250
  

853,681
  

32,569
  



South Coatbridge
  

716,000
  

605,124
  

110,876
  



GO - Perth
  

194,761
  

167,706
  

27,055
  



Ferguslie Park*
  

1,101,000
  

868,946
  

232,054
  



Paisley
  

2,947,000
  

2,748,356
  

198,644
  



Scottish Borders
  

235,000
  

226,679
  

8,321
  



Girvan
  

428,000
  

417,587
  

10,413
  



North Ayr
  

1,545,938
  

1,545,938
  

0
  



Blantyre/ North 
  Hamilton
  

1,019,000
  

1,018,721
  

279
  



Cambuslang
  

625,000
  

593,275
  

31,725
  



Stirling 
  

526,000
  

517,446
  

8,554
  



West Dunbartonshire
  

2,087,000
  

2,086,223
  

777
  



West Lothian
  

256,000
  

84,785
  

171,215
  



Total
  

53,800,430
  

47,598,906
  

6,201,524
  



  Note:

  *Ring-fenced element of Paisley SIP.

  The following is a corrected answer (published on 24 July 2002); see below.

  Table shows figures for 1999-2000;

  


SIP
  

Total Allocation
  

Expenditure
  

Under(Over)
  



Aberdeen Great 
  Northern
  

809,000
  

809,000
  

0
  



Arbroath
  

140,000
  

140,000
  

0
  



Argyll and 
  Bute
  

206,000
  

205,113
  

887
  



Edinburgh North
  

2,877,000
  

2,830,281
  

46,719
  



Edinburgh South
  

740,000
  

506,427
  

233,573
  



Edinburgh Strategic 
  Programme
  

1,178,000
  

1,098,064
  

79,936
  



Edinburgh Youth 
  SIP
  

205,000
  

182,331
  

22,669
  



Edinburgh Craigmillar
  

1,723,000
  

1,669,416
  

53,584
  



Alloa South 
  and East*
  

750,000
  

783,252
  

(33,252)
  



Dundee Young 
  Carers
  

56,000
  

24,332
  

31,668
  



Dundee SIP1
  

2,512,000
  

2,508,967
  

3,033
  



Dundee SIP2
  

792,000
  

792,000
  

0
  



Dundee Xplore
  

300,000
  

181,375
  

118,625
  



East Ayrshire 
  Coalfields
  

741,000
  

694,110
  

46,890
  



Tranent
  

94,000
  

93,750
  

250
  



Levern Valley*
  

433,000
  

554,299
  

(121,299)
  



Falkirk
  

550,000
  

550,000
  

0
  



Fife
  

751,000
  

720,332
  

30,668
  



Fife Frae
  

94,000
  

55,808
  

38,192
  



Glasgow Smaller 
  Areas
  

1,100,000
  

1,096,559
  

3,441
  



Glasgow Anti 
  Racist Alliance
  

593,325
  

465,202
  

128,123
  



Glasgow Big 
  Step
  

378,000
  

87,298
  

290,702
  



Glasgow Drumchapel
  

1,875,000
  

1,587,475
  

287,525
  



Glasgow East 
  End
  

2,800,000
  

2,672,295
  

127,705
  



Glasgow Gorbals
  

562,500
  

541,183
  

21,317
  



Glasgow Greater 
  Easterhouse
  

3,400,000
  

3,378,280
  

21,720
  



Glasgow Greater 
  Govan
  

375,000
  

349,172
  

25,828
  



Glasgow Greater 
  Pollok
  

1,725,000
  

1,701,653
  

23,347
  



Glasgow Milton
  

200,074
  

170,303
  

29,771
  



Glasgow North
  

3,300,000
  

3,240,883
  

59,117
  



Glasgow Routes 
  Out
  

187,500
  

65,175
  

122,325
  



Glasgow Springburn
  

200,316
  

200,085
  

231
  



Highlands and 
  Islands 
  

603,000
  

479,730
  

123,270
  



Inverclyde
  

2,998,000
  

2,991,245
  

6,755
  



Moray Youthstart
  

424,000
  

419,556
  

4,444
  



North Ayrshire*
  

776,000
  

792,559
  

(16,559)
  



Motherwell 
  North
  

1,530,000
  

1,329,242
  

200,758
  



North Lanarkshire
  

850,000
  

807,162
  

42,838
  



South Coatbridge
  

250,000
  

208,947
  

41,053
  



GO – Perth
  

128,000
  

46,577
  

81,423
  



Ferguslie Park**
  

662,372
  

528,740
  

133,632
  



Paisley 
  

2,981,000
  

2,749,276
  

231,724
  



Scottish Borders
  

215,000
  

154,966
  

60,034
  



Girvan
  

315,000
  

289,848
  

25,152
  



North Ayr*
  

1,508,000
  

1,950,332
  

(442,322)
  



Blantyre/ North 
  Hamilton
  

500,000
  

498,254
  

1,746
  



Cambuslang
  

600,000
  

598,595
  

1,405
  



Stirling 
  

583,000
  

582,356
  

644
  



West Dunbartonshire
  

2,193,000
  

2,186,700
  

6,300
  



West Lothian
  

188,000
  

170,792
  

17,208
  



Total
  

48,952,087
  

46,739,297
  

2,212,790
  



  Note:

  * Four Social Inclusion Partnership areas showed an overspend against the agreed SIP Fund allocation in 1999-2000, i.e. Alloa South and East, Levern Valley, North Ayrshire and North Ayr. It should be noted that any amounts over and above the agreed allocations are met from other sources, usually the local authority.

  ** By April 1999 Ferguslie Park was absorbed into the Paisley Social Inclusion Partnership but was given a ring-fenced budget to be used solely for the Ferguslie Park area.

  Table shows figures for 2000-01;

  


SIP
  

Total Allocation
  

Expenditure
  

Underspend
  



Aberdeen Great 
  Northern
  

844,000
  

844,000
  

0
  



Argyll and 
  Bute*
  

280,000
  

291,610
  

(11,610)
  



Edinburgh North
  

2,589,575
  

2,556,423
  

33,152
  



Edinburgh South
  

990,938
  

964,498
  

26,440
  



Edinburgh Strategic 
  Programme
  

550,450
  

537,490
  

12,960
  



Edinburgh Youth 
  SIP
  

567,000
  

561,891
  

5,109
  



Edinburgh Craigmillar
  

1,755,335
  

1,731,958
  

23,377
  



Alloa South 
  and East
  

1,017,000
  

1,014,783
  

2,217
  



Dundee Young 
  Carers
  

105,000
  

101,404
  

3,596
  



Dundee SIP1
  

2,119,000
  

2,106,738
  

12,262
  



Dundee SIP2
  

453,000
  

448,030
  

4,970
  



Dundee Xplore
  

500,000
  

269,450
  

230,550
  



East Ayrshire 
  Coalfields
  

1,042,250
  

1,042,043
  

207
  



Tranent
  

128,000
  

128,000
  

0
  



Levern Valley*
  

446,000
  

528,206
  

(82,206)
  



Falkirk
  

578,750
  

578,750
  

0
  



Fife
  

630,000
  

630,000
  

0
  



Fife Frae
  

164,750
  

153,817
  

10,933
  



Glasgow Smaller 
  Areas
  

1,378,000
  

757,173
  

620,827
  



Glasgow Anti 
  Racist Alliance
  

780,500
  

757,294
  

23,206
  



Glasgow Big 
  Step
  

722,328
  

565,541
  

156,787
  



Glasgow Drumchapel
  

2,755,280
  

2,594,432
  

160,848
  



Glasgow East 
  End
  

2,868,000
  

2,791,711
  

76,289
  



Glasgow Gorbals
  

764,000
  

731,298
  

32,702
  



Glasgow Greater 
  Easterhouse
  

3,491,000
  

3,395,426
  

95,574
  



Glasgow Greater 
  Govan
  

509,000
  

481,019
  

27,981
  



Glasgow Greater 
  Pollok
  

2,343,000
  

2,000,916
  

342,084
  



Glasgow Milton
  

764,000
  

581,783
  

182,217
  



Glasgow North
  

2,987,000
  

2,984,906
  

2,094
  



Glasgow Routes 
  Out
  

353,000
  

269,706
  

83,294
  



Glasgow Springburn
  

764,000
  

736,558
  

27,442
  



Highland and 
  Islands
  

886,825
  

809,329
  

77,496
  



Inverclyde*
  

2,421,000
  

2,423,735
  

(2,735)
  



Moray Youthstart
  

576,000
  

576,000
  

0
  



North Ayrshire
  

730,000
  

714,000
  

16,000
  



Motherwell 
  North
  

1,629,500
  

1,533,240
  

96,260
  



North Lanarkshire
  

886,250
  

853,681
  

32,569
  



South Coatbridge
  

716,000
  

605,124
  

110,876
  



GO – Perth
  

194,761
  

167,706
  

27,055
  



Ferguslie Park**
  

1,101,000
  

868,946
  

232,054
  



Paisley
  

2,947,000
  

2,748,176
  

198,824
  



Scottish Borders
  

235,000
  

226,679
  

8,321
  



Girvan
  

428,000
  

417,587
  

10,413
  



North Ayr*
  

1,545,938
  

1,853,918
  

(307,980)
  



Blantyre/ North 
  Hamilton*
  

1,019,000
  

1,061,010
  

(42,010)
  



Cambuslang
  

625,000
  

593,275
  

31,725
  



Stirling 
  

526,000
  

517,446
  

8,554
  



West Dunbartonshire
  

2,087,000
  

2,086,373
  

627
  



West Lothian
  

256,000
  

253,525
  

2,475
  



Total
  

54,050,430
  

51,446,604
  

2,603,826
  



  Note:

  * Five Social Inclusion Partnership areas showed an overspend in 2000-01, i.e. Argyll and Bute, Levern Valley, Inverclyde, North Ayr and Blantyre/North Hamilton. It should be noted that any amounts over and above the agreed allocations are met from other resources, usually the local authority.

  **Ring-fenced element of Paisley SIP.

Special Educational Needs

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the Scottish Committee of the Council on Tribunals' 16th Annual Report 2000-2001 , what its position is on establishing a separate Special Educational Needs Tribunal for Scotland.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive consulted last year on Assessing our children’s educational needs – The Way Forward? . As a result, outline proposals for change were published on 19 February 2002. This document includes the Executive’s proposals to establish an independent Tribunal in Scotland to hear appeals relating to children with additional support needs.

  Copies of the proposals are available in the Scottish Executive response to the consultation (Bib. number 19469).

Sport

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to establish a School Sports Alliance similar to that set up by Her Majesty's Government.

Dr Elaine Murray: There are a number of developments which should be sufficient to obviate the demand for a School Sports Alliance.

  As part of the implementation of the organisational review which reported last year, sportscotland is setting up four advisory groups comprising board members and representatives from stakeholder organisations; these groups will have an important role to play in advising on policy development, implementation and monitoring. One of these groups will encompass school/youth sport in its remit.

  We expect that the Physical Activity Task Force will make specific recommendations in this area, which will encourage integrated approaches involving a range of organisations and programmes and to achieve a much stronger recognition in the education service and more widely, of the value of physical education, sport and physical activity. In the meantime we wish to see sportscotland continue to develop and deliver with partner organisations integrated programmes which will benefit children both within and outwith a school setting.

  In addition, sportscotland are about to review Sport 21, the national sport strategy, and in agreeing the approach to the review, ministers have made clear the priority to be given to addressing issues of participation by children and young people and the role of sport in raising levels of physical activity. Ministers expect that the issues relating to the identification of best practice and the materials available to schools, can be addressed as part of this review in close discussion with relevant stakeholders.

Tourism

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what role angling tourism plays in the tourism strategy and whether there are any plans to enhance the role of angling tourism.

Mike Watson: Angling tourism is recognised by VisitScotland as an important niche market and one with growth potential. They are developing a guide and a website, which will be launched soon. The site will provide visitors with up to date information on matters such as seasons, times, conditions and types of fishing.

Tourism

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to acquire advice from angling bodies and related businesses to help attract overseas visitors to Scotland for angling.

Mike Watson: VisitScotland sought advice from angling bodies last year and there is input from the sector in the development of the new brochure and website.